Recreation
From vast wildernesses to stunning waterfalls, exploring the Ottawa takes you into a different world. With an average annual snowfall of 200", winter sports enthusiasts will find Alpine and Nordic skiing, snowmobiling, dogsledding and ice fishing for most months the year.
Lightly used campgrounds and far-flung trails make it easy to find solitude no matter what time of year you visit. Although the forest is home to many furry friends, including bear, coyotes, wolves and deer so you'll never be alone.
With over 500 named lakes and 2,000 miles of rivers and streams it's a fisherman's paradise, from walk-in lakes, streams and rivers, to access to the depths of Lake Superior at Black Harbor Recreation Area.
2025 Fee Free Days
- Martin Luther King, Jr. Day: January 20, 2025
- National Get Outdoors Day: June 14, 2025
- Juneteenth: June 19, 2025
- National Public Lands Day: September 27, 2025
- Veterans Day: November 11, 2025
*Does not apply to camping, OHV, or concession sites.
Free Fishing Weekend
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources Free Fishing Weekend dates for 2025 are:
- Feb. 15 - 16
- June 7 - 8.
All fishing license fees will be waived for two days.
Know Before You Go
Passes and Permits

Maps and Guides

Contact the Visitor Center

Safety and Ethics
